47 U.S.C. § 1726 — General provisions

Page 499 TITLE 47—TELECOMMUNICATIONS § 1741 (C) is accessible— (i) to individuals with disabilities; and (ii) in languages other than English. (b) Authority to contract and enter into other ar- rangements The Assistant Secretary may award grants and enter into contracts, cooperative agree- ments, and other arrangements with Federal agencies, public and private organizations, and other entities with expertise that the Assistant Secretary determines appropriate in order to— (1) evaluate the impact and efficacy of ac- tivities supported by grants awarded under the covered programs; and (2) develop, catalog, disseminate, and pro- mote the exchange of best practices, both with respect to and independent of the covered pro- grams, in order to achieve digital equity. (c) Consultation and public engagement In carrying out subsection (a), and to further the objectives described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b), the Assistant Secretary shall conduct ongoing collaboration and consult with— (1) the Secretary of Agriculture; (2) the Secretary of Housing and Urban De- velopment; (3) the Secretary of Education; (4) the Secretary of Labor; (5) the Secretary of Health and Human Serv- ices; (6) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; (7) the Secretary of the Interior; (8) the Federal Communications Commis- sion; (9) the Federal Trade Commission; (10) the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services; (11) the Administrator of the Small Business Administration; (12) the Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission; (13) State agencies and governors of States (or equivalent officials); (14) entities serving as administering enti- ties for States under section 1723(b) of this title; (15) national, State, tribal, and local organi- zations that provide digital inclusion, digital equity, or digital literacy services; (16) researchers, academics, and philan- thropic organizations; and (17) other agencies, organizations (including international organizations), entities (includ- ing entities with expertise in the fields of data collection, analysis and modeling, and evalua- tion), and community stakeholders, as deter- mined appropriate by the Assistant Secretary. (d) Technical support and assistance The Assistant Secretary shall provide tech- nical support and assistance, assistance to enti- ties to prepare the applications of those entities with respect to grants awarded under the cov- ered programs, and other resources, to the ex- tent practicable, to ensure consistency in data reporting and to meet the objectives of this sec- tion. (e) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this sec- tion, which shall remain available until ex- pended. (Pub. L. 117–58, div. F, title III, § 60306, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1228.) § 1726. General provisions (a) Nondiscrimination (1) In general No individual in the United States may, on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, re- ligion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or disability, be ex- cluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity that is funded in whole or in part with funds made available to carry out this subchapter. (2) Enforcement The Assistant Secretary shall effectuate paragraph (1) with respect to any program or activity described in that paragraph by issuing regulations and taking actions con- sistent with section 2000d–1 of title 42. (3) Judicial review Judicial review of an action taken by the Assistant Secretary under paragraph (2) shall be available to the extent provided in section 2000d–2 of title 42. (b) Technological neutrality The Assistant Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, carry out this subchapter in a tech- nologically neutral manner. (c) Audit and oversight Beginning in the first fiscal year in which amounts are made available to carry out an ac- tivity authorized under this subchapter, and in each of the 4 fiscal years thereafter, there is au- thorized to be appropriated to the Office of In- spector General for the Department of Com- merce $1,000,000 for audits and oversight of funds made available to carry out this subchapter, which shall remain available until expended. (Pub. L. 117–58, div. F, title III, § 60307, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1230.) SUBCHAPTER III—ENABLING MIDDLE MILE BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE § 1741. Enabling middle mile broadband infra- structure (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Anchor institution The term ‘‘anchor institution’’ means a school, library, medical or healthcare pro- vider, community college or other institution of higher education, or other community sup- port organization or entity. (2) Assistant Secretary The term ‘‘Assistant Secretary’’ means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Commu- nications and Information. (3) Commission The term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Federal Communications Commission.